All About Juneau

Juneau, Alaska is like no place else on earth. It is the capitol of the state, and satisfies the dream of living in America's last great frontier. As locals, we love the beautiful and sometimes surreal environment - accentuated by snow-capped mountains, a unique glacier, lush forests, abundant wildlife, and breathtaking water views. We adapt to the rainy climate, the long days of summer and the early darkness of winter, and the accessibility challenges that require barges, ferries, and airplanes to bring people, home goods, and supplies into our idyllic world. We're also pretty good at helping people who are moving here for the first time to navigate the journey of finding a home that simply works for them. Below you will find some insider information about Juneau's residential neighborhoods.

Auke Bay is located north of downtown and within minutes of the airport, but slightly removed from shopping and restaurants. It offers close proximity to the ocean, the University of Alaska, superb hiking trails, the ferry terminal, and the Auke Bay harbor. If you love to fish, then living in Auke Bay provides convenient access to the marina and local islands. It also offers a community rec center and high quality schools. Many homes here are either waterfront or have island, water, marina, and/or bay views.

The Mendenhall Valley is located along the Mendenhall River and in the shadow of Thunder Mountain. Living in the Valley is all about convenience to shopping, restaurants, the airport, schools, and numerous hiking trails and parks. This neighborhood also offers the ability to live on the banks of the river or close to lakes and the National Forest. Many homes in the Valley also enjoy beautiful mountain and glacier views.

The Back Loop is located in the northern part of the Mendenhall Valley with easy access to shopping and restaurants. It offers newer, energy efficient homes in addition to those built when the neighborhood was originally settled. It is ideal for those who enjoy the great outdoors and offers access to Dredge Lake, the historic Skaters Cabin picnic shelter, Auke Lake and Forest Service hiking trails, a campground, groomed Nordic ski trails, a shooting range, and a community garden.

The term out the road for the most part refers to residences located north of the ferry terminal. It offers homes on acreage, in small neighborhoods, and on the water with beach access. Close to the beautiful Tee Harbor, this beautiful neighborhood is also desirable for those who love boating and fishing and spectacular water views. Because of its distance from amenities and schools, it is ideal for people who work from home and retirees.

Downtown Juneau is located in the southern part of town. People love living in this neighborhood for many reasons including the beautiful older homes, gorgeous views, and proximity to the State Office Building, the State Capitol, the courthouse,  the Federal building, and the Governor’s Mansion. You will also find interesting shops and restaurants here as well as access to the tram, public transportation, Mount Juneau, Mount Roberts, and the Perseverance hiking trail.

The Salmon Creek neighborhood is located in the Twin Lakes area north of Downtown. It offers proximity to the water with views of the Gastineau Channel, the Wetlands, and North Douglas. This area features a beautiful walking trail around the lakes and a wonderful playground, as well as close proximity to many medical offices and the local hospital. Salmon Creek is also close to downtown restaurants, shopping, and government offices.

Douglas Island 

Douglas refers to the downtown area of Douglas Island. It is located near the only sandy beach in Juneau aptly named Sandy Beach. Douglas offers restaurants, gas stations, a library, a school, and a local convenience store. It also has its own boat harbor and ice skating rink and offers easy access to the desirable Treadwell Ditch hiking trail. Douglas is a community itself with its own character, and many of the people who live here can’t imagine being anywhere else.

North Douglas, as its name suggests, is located north of Douglas. For those who prefer a more secluded environment surrounded by the forest and further away from neighbors and urban amenities, living in North Douglas fits the bill. The natural beauty here is unparalleled and well worth the extra drive to those who love the unique lifestyle it offers.  North Douglas provides rainforest trails, easy access to hunting and fishing, the Eaglecrest ski area, magnificent hiking trails, and accessible beaches.

West Juneau is located on Douglas Island across the Gastineau Channel from downtown and slightly north of the Douglas bridge. Many of the homes here are situated up on a hill and residents enjoy beautiful views of the water. West Juneau is in an ideal location with easy access to downtown Juneau and Douglas and all of the amenities they offer. This neighborhood has low turnover and homes rarely go on the market.